Latest From Napo 217

Here we have an edited version of the latest Napo bulletin posted out this evening:-

CRCs have an important role to play in the transition process

The announcement on June 13th that the Probation service is to be fully reunified by June next year has understandably seen some mixed reactions from the CRC owners. Napo’s early engagement with senior CRC leaders has nevertheless been positive in terms of a mutual understanding that the uncertainties amongst CRC staff need to be addressed quickly.

In previous mail outs we have explained our negotiating priorities, one of which is the need to get early assurances from Ministers that all CRC staff who are involved in the delivery and management of Probation services should receive an offer of employment in the NPS upon transfer in 2021.

This issue, along with the need to finalise the new Staff Transfer and Protections Agreement prior to a members' ballot has been the subject of extensive discussions between your senior negotiators and the NPS/HMPPS. We will bring you more news as soon as we can.

Meanwhile here is a round-up of some of the discussions that have been taking place across the CRC estate

Kent Surrey and Sussex CRCs/Seetec (including ex-Working Links owned CRCs)

Wales Having gone through the transition of sentence management into the NPS Cymru branch are well placed to advise on the potential problems that lie ahead for the rest of England. SEETEC for their part have moved quickly to engage with the unions on the steps that will need to be put in place for the transition process as well as their emerging plans for recovery following the C-19 Lockdown. This has led to some constructive early engagement across both arms of the expanded KSS CRC which also covers Wales and the South West regions. Our new National Official lead Annoesjka Valent has wasted no time in establishing engagement with the employer and support for our local Napo reps.

Interserve CRCs

Napo Interserve reps have been involved in pay negotiations and at the time of writing the unions await some final clarification on a pay offer and will be consulting with members very soon. Since lockdown Napo has been meeting more frequently with the employer and National Official Sarah Friday reports that significant progress has been made on a number of issues including annual leave carry over and paid special leave for staff impacted by the C-19 pandemic and individual risk assessments.

Sodexo CRCs

Business Recovery Plans: Sodexo in common with other CRCs has confirmed to Napo that they will not be operating UPW without first consulting the unions and having in place a fully formed plan that maintains staff health and wellbeing and the safety of Service users and Beneficiaries. Acting assistant GS Ranjit Singh reports that the company has given a commitment that as the organisation moves to develop a whole business recovery plan it will involve national trade union representatives and consultation with local reps at an early stage. A pay offer covering two years has recently been overwhelmingly accepted by Napo members.

Durham Tees Valley CRC

Again good progress has been reported on the employer’s approach to staff well-being and support from the employers business partners to staff. DTV CRC has made an early commitment to meet regularly with the unions to discuss their exit plan from the EDM. A pay deal covering 2020/21 and 2021/22 was recently overwhelmingly accepted by members. This, and the earlier settlements across SEETEC and Sodexo has raised the stakes in terms of yet to be concluded pay negotiations with other CRC providers. 

MTC – London and Thames Valley CRCs

Early engagement has taken place with senior MTC management on their plans for recovering unpaid work services in the first instance and wider operations involving a gradual increase in face to face supervision. Meetings are also underway to look at the considerable challenges posed by the transition of services and staff into the NPS next year. Following some initial difficulties there has recently been constructive dialogue on how the parties can move forward on a partnership basis to the tasks ahead of us.  Talks on pay are also expected to commence again very soon and Napo has made our aims very clear in this respect.

RRP CRCs: Staffordshire West Midlands and East Midlands

Encouraging progress on recovery planning has been reported by National Official Tania Bassett, but Pay talks with RRP got off to a very bad start. Following an intervention by Ian Lawrence General Secretary who wrote to the RRP Board to express Napo’s disappointment, pay negotiations have recently resumed and more news from the employer is expected soon.

Warwickshire West Mercia CRC

A similar position has been reported in terms of engagement with the employer and Pay talks are due to commence soon after a long delay, which Napo has told the employer is simply unacceptable.

Time for Napo H&S Reps to help the recovery process

Following a personal commitment from Probation Director General Amy Rees to the General Secretary that additional time should be granted to union representatives involved in the recovery discussions with NPS Divisions, Napo has forwarded the names of existing Health and Safety reps as well as a welcome number of new reps who have come through the excellent training organised by Sarah Friday.

We need union collaboration on Health and Safety

Our National Officials are also in touch with CRC owners to encourage them to mirror these arrangements. Ian Lawrence says: ‘I am greatly encouraged by the enthusiasm being shown by our vital network of local safety reps who are stepping forward to help secure the safety of staff in the recovery process. I should also make it clear that I expect a collaborative approach to be taken between the recognised unions in this respect and that Napo has an important role to play as we look to combine our resources across all employers.’

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